Vision Zero Update

At the November City Council meeting, Transportation Services presented a comprehensive update on the Vision Zero Road Safety Plan (RSP). Since the last major Vision Zero update in 2019, the City has:

  • Installed over 1,200 Leading Pedestrian Intervals;

  • Expanded the Automated Speed Enforcement program from 25 to 75 mobile cameras;

  • Reduced speed limits on more than 500km of roads;

  • Installed 430 School Safety Zones with a target of another 80 per year until completion in 2026;

  • Installed 250 in-road flexible speed signs;

  • Implemented almost 300 Red Light Cameras;

  • Expanded the School Crossing Guard Program to 800+ guards; and

  • Established the Toronto Police Service Vision Zero Enforcement Team, consisting of 2 Police Sergeants and 16 Constables.

One of the most critical and effective tools in the RSP is the Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) program. In fact, a recent study by SickKids showed that excessive speeding has been reduced by up to 87% in areas where an ASE unit has been deployed. At City Council's direction, Transportation Services will be including an additional 75 units in the City's 2024 Budget, which would bring the total number in-use across Toronto to 150.

Currently, Provincial legislation only permits ASE units to be installed in Community Safety Zones around schools. In their report, Transportation Services recommends expanding the criteria used to identify new Community Safety Zones to include areas with high concentrations of senior residents and retirement facilities, community centres, parks with high visitor volumes, and hospitals. This change will allow ASE to be installed in more local communities city-wide.
 
As part of the RSP, Transportation Services is working toward reducing the speed limits on all local roads in Toronto to 30km/h on a ward-by-ward basis, using a data-driven prioritization framework. Visit my website to learn more about the work I'm doing to accelerate this program in Ward 15 – Don Valley West.
 
If you're interested, you can also use the City's Vision Zero Mapping Tool to learn about road safety initiatives in your neighbourhood.

Community SafetyJaye RobinsonSchool Safety Zones, ASE, Safety, Road Safety, Community Safety Zones, City Council, transportation